Prolonged effects of DPP-4 inhibitors on steato-hepatitic changes in Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high-cholesterol diet.

OBJECTIVE: Sitagliptin and other dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors/gliptins are antidiabetic drugs known to improve lipid profile, and confer anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects, which are independent of their hypoglycemic effects. However, in our previous short-term (35 days) studies, we showed that sitagliptin accentuates the hepato-inflammatory effects of high dietary cholesterol (Cho) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Since most type 2 diabetics also present with lipid abnormalities and use DPP-4 inhibitors for glucose management, the present study was conducted to assess the impact of sitagliptin during long-term (98 days) feeding of a high Cho diet. An additional component of the present investigation was the inclusion of other gliptins to determine if hepatic steatosis, necro-inflammation, and fibrosis were specific to sitagliptin or are class effects. METHODS: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed control or high Cho (2.0%) diets, and gavaged daily (from day 30 through 98) with vehicle or DPP-4 inhibitors (sitagliptin or alogliptin or saxagliptin). On day 99 after a 4 h fast, rats were euthanized. Blood and liver samples were collected to measure lipids and cytokines, and for histopathological evaluation, determination of hepatic lesions (steatosis, necrosis, inflammation, and fibrosis) using specific staining and immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: Compared to controls, the high Cho diet produced a robust increase in NASH like phenotype that included increased expression of hepatic (Tnfa, Il1b, and Mcp1) and circulatory (TNFα and IL-1ß) markers of inflammation, steatosis, necrosis, fibrosis, and mononuclear cell infiltration. These mononuclear cells were identified as macrophages and T cells, and their recruitment in the liver was facilitated by marked increases in endothelium-expressed cell adhesion molecules. Importantly, treatment with DPP-4 inhibitors (3 tested) neither alleviated the pathologic responses induced by high Cho diet nor improved lipid profile. CONCLUSIONS: The potential lipid lowering effects of DPP-4 inhibitors were diminished by high Cho (a significant risk factor for inducing liver damage). The robust inflammatory responses induced by high Cho feeding in long-term experiment were not exacerbated by DPP-4 inhibitors and a consistent hepatic inflammatory environment persisted, implying a prospective physiological adaptation.

The incretin enhancer, sitagliptin, exacerbates expression of hepatic inflammatory markers in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet.

OBJECTIVE: Hypercholesterolemia is associated with the development of a pro-inflammatory state and is a documented risk factor for progression to insulin resistance, nonalcoholic fatty liver and cardiovascular diseases. Sitagliptin is an incretin enhancer that improves glucose tolerance by inhibiting dipeptidyl peptidase-4, but it also has reported anti-inflammatory effects. The current study was thus undertaken to examine the interactions of dietary Cholesterol (Cho) and sitagliptin on markers of inflammation. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were provided diets high in Cho and gavaged with vehicle or an aqueous suspension of sitagliptin (100 mg/kg/day) from day 10 through day 35. Molecular methods were used to analyze the lipid profile and inflammatory markers in liver and serum samples. H&E-stained liver sections were used for histopathological evaluation. Hepatic influx of mononuclear cells and necrosis were assessed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Sitagliptin reduced triglyceride and Cho levels in serum of rats on the control diet but these effects were abrogated in rats on the high-Cho diet. Sitagliptin produced a significant increase in the expression of hepatic inflammatory markers (Tnfa, Il1b, and Mcp1) and a corresponding increase in serum TNFα and IL-1ß in rats on the high-Cho diet, but it had no effect on rats on the control diet. Additionally, sitagliptin had no effect on liver morphology in rats on the control diet, but it produced hepatic histopathological changes indicative of necrosis and mononuclear cell infiltration in rats on the high-Cho diet. These mononuclear cells were identified as macrophages and T cells. CONCLUSION: When provided in the context of a high-Cho diet, these findings reveal previously unrecognized hepato-inflammatory effects of sitagliptin that are accompanied by evidence of hepatic necrosis and mononuclear cell infiltration.

Nebivolol has a beneficial effect in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension is a rare disorder that, without treatment, is progressive and fatal within 3-4 years. Current treatment involves a diverse group of drugs that target the pulmonary vascular bed. In addition, strategies that increase nitric oxide (NO) formation have a beneficial effect in rodents and patients. Nebivolol, a selective ß1 adrenergic receptor-blocking agent reported to increase NO production and stimulate ß3 receptors, has vasodilator properties suggesting that it may be beneficial in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. The present study was undertaken to determine whether nebivolol has a beneficial effect in monocrotaline-induced (60 mg/kg) pulmonary hypertension in the rat. These results show that nebivolol treatment (10 mg/kg, once or twice daily) attenuates pulmonary hypertension, reduces right ventricular hypertrophy, and improves pulmonary artery remodeling in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension. This study demonstrates the presence of ß3 adrenergic receptor immunoreactivity in pulmonary arteries and airways and that nebivolol has pulmonary vasodilator activity. Studies with ß3 receptor agonists (mirabegron, BRL 37344) and antagonists suggest that ß3 receptor-mediated decreases in systemic arterial pressure occur independent of NO release. Our results suggest that nebivolol, a selective vasodilating ß1 receptor antagonist that stimulates ß3 adrenergic receptors and induces vasodilation by increasing NO production, may be beneficial in treating pulmonary hypertensive disorders.

Intratracheal administration of cyclooxygenase-1-transduced adipose tissue-derived stem cells ameliorates monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats.

The effect of intratracheal administration of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1)-modified adipose stem cells (ASCs) on monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension (MCT-PH) was investigated in the rat. The COX-1 gene was cloned from rat intestinal cells, fused with a hemagglutanin (HA) tag, and cloned into a lentiviral vector. The COX-1 lentiviral vector was shown to enhance COX-1 protein expression and inhibit proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells without increasing apoptosis. Human ASCs transfected with the COX-1 lentiviral vector (ASCCOX-1) display enhanced COX-1 activity while exhibiting similar differentiation potential compared with untransduced (native) ASCs. PH was induced in rats with MCT, and the rats were subsequently treated with intratracheal injection of ASCCOX-1 or untransduced ASCs. The intratracheal administration of ASCCOX-1 3 × 10(6) cells on day 14 after MCT treatment significantly attenuated MCT-induced PH when hemodynamic values were measured on day 35 after MCT treatment whereas administration of untransduced ASCs had no significant effect. These results indicate that intratracheally administered ASCCOX-1 persisted for at least 21 days in the lung and attenuate MCT-induced PH and right ventricular hypertrophy. In addition, vasodilator responses to the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside were not altered by the presence of ASCCOX-1 in the lung. These data emphasize the effectiveness of ASCCOX-1 in the treatment of experimentally induced PH.

Adverse Cardiac Events of Hypercholesterolemia Are Enhanced by Sitagliptin Administration in Sprague Dawley Rats.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) affects millions worldwide and is the leading cause of death among non-communicable diseases. Western diets typically comprise of meat and dairy products, both of which are rich in cholesterol (Cho) and methionine (Met), two well-known compounds with atherogenic capabilities. Despite their individual effects, literature on a dietary combination of the two in the context of CVD are limited. An additional interest was to investigate the cardioprotective potential of sitagliptin, an anti-type 2 diabetic drug. Thus, we hypothesized that atherogenic feeding would result in adverse cardiac effects and would attenuate upon sitagliptin administration. Methods: Six-week-old adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a control (Con), high Met (1.5%), high Cho (2.0%), or high Met (1.5%) + high Cho (2.0%) diet for 35 days. They were orally gavaged with vehicle (water) or sitagliptin (100 mg/kg/d) from day 10 through 35. On day 36, rats were euthanized, and tissues were collected for analysis. Results: Histopathological evaluation revealed a reduction in myocardial striations and increased collagen deposition in hypercholesterolemia (HChol), responses that became exacerbated upon sitagliptin administration. Cardiac pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic responses were adversely impacted in similar fashion. The addition of Met to Cho (MC) attenuated all adverse structural and biochemical responses, with or without sitagliptin. Conclusion: Adverse cardiac outcomes in HChol were enhanced with sitagliptin administration and such effects were alleviated by Met. Our findings could be significant for understanding the risk-benefit of sitagliptin in type 2 diabetics who are known to consume atherogenic diets.

Analysis of erectile responses to BAY 41-8543 and muscarinic receptor stimulation in the rat.

INTRODUCTION: Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) is the receptor for nitric oxide (NO) and in pathophysiologic conditions where NO formation or bioavailability is impaired, erectile dysfunction (ED) occurs. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate erectile responses to the sGC stimulator BAY 41-8543 in physiologic and pathophysiologic conditions. METHODS: Increases in intracavernosal pressure (ICP) in response to intracavernosal (ic) injections of BAY 41-8543 were investigated in the anesthetized rat. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Increases in ICP/MAP in response to ic injections of BAY 41-8543 and the interaction of BAY 41-8543 with exogenous and endogenously released NO were investigated and the effect of the sGC stimulator on cavernosal nerve injury was assessed. The mechanism of the increase in ICP/MAP in response to ic injection of acetylcholine was investigated. RESULTS: The ic injections of BAY 41-8543 increased ICP/MAP and the duration of the response. BAY 41-8543 was less potent than sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and ic injections of BAY 41-8543 and SNP produced a larger response than the algebraic sum of responses to either agent alone. Simultaneous ic injection of BAY 41-8543 and cavernosal nerve stimulation produced a greater response than either intervention alone. Atropine and cavernosal nerve crush injury decreased the response to nerve stimulation and ic injection of BAY 41-8543 restored the response. CONCLUSION: These data show that BAY 41-8543 has significant erectile activity and can synergize with exogenous and endogenously released NO. This study shows that atropine and nerve crush attenuate the response to cavernosal nerve stimulation and that BAY 41-8543 can restore the response. The results with atropine, L-NAME and hexamethonium indicate that the response to ic injection of acetylcholine is mediated by muscarinic receptors and the release of NO with no significant role for nicotinic receptors. These results suggest that BAY 41-8543 would be useful in the treatment of ED.

Angiotensin II enhances AT1-Nox1 binding and stimulates arterial smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation through AT1, Nox1, and interleukin-18.

The redox-sensitive transcription factors NF-κB and activator protein-1 (AP-1) are critical mediators of ANG II signaling. The promitogenic and promigratory factor interleukin (IL)-18 is an NF-κB- and AP-1-responsive gene. Therefore, we investigated whether ANG II-mediated smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration and proliferation involve IL-18. ANG II induced rat carotid artery SMC migration and proliferation and IL-18 and metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression via ANG II type 1 (AT(1)) receptor. ANG II-induced superoxide generation, NF-κB and AP-1 activation, and IL-18 and MMP-9 induction were all markedly attenuated by losartan, diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI), and Nox1 knockdown. Similar to ANG II, addition of IL-18 also induced superoxide generation, activated NF-κB and AP-1, and stimulated SMC migration and proliferation, in part via Nox1, and both ANG II and IL-18 induced NOX1 transcription in an AP-1-dependent manner. AT(1) physically associates with Nox1 in SMC, and ANG II enhanced this binding. Interestingly, exogenous IL-18 neither induced AT(1) binding to Nox1 nor enhanced the ANG II-induced increase in AT(1)/Nox1 binding. Importantly, IL-18 knockdown, or pretreatment with IL-18 neutralizing antibodies, or IL-18 binding protein, all attenuated the migratory and mitogenic effects of ANG II. Continuous infusion of ANG II for 7 days induced carotid artery hyperplasia in rats via AT(1) and was associated with increased AT(1)/Nox1 binding (despite lower AT(1) levels); increased DPI-inhibitable superoxide production; increased phospho-IKKß, JNK, p65, and c-Jun; and induction of IL-18 and MMP-9 in endothelium-denuded carotid arteries. These results indicate that IL-18 amplifies the ANG II-induced, redox-dependent inflammatory cascades by activating similar promitogenic and promigratory signal transduction pathways. The ANG II/Nox1/IL-18 pathway may be critical in hyperplastic vascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and restenosis.

Analysis of responses to glyceryl trinitrate and sodium nitrite in the intact chest rat.

Responses to glyceryl trinitrate/nitroglycerin (GTN), S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), and sodium nitrite were compared in the intact chest rat. The iv injections of GTN, sodium nitrite, and GSNO produced dose-dependent decreases in pulmonary and systemic arterial pressures. In as much as cardiac output was not reduced, the decreases in pulmonary and systemic arterial pressures indicate that GTN, sodium nitrite, and GSNO have significant vasodilator activity in the pulmonary and systemic vascular beds in the rat. Responses to GTN were attenuated by cyanamide, but not allopurinol, whereas responses to nitrite formed by the metabolism of GTN were attenuated by allopurinol and cyanamide. The results with allopurinol and cyanamide suggest that only mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase is involved in the bioactivation of GTN, sodium nitrite, and GSNO, whereas both pathways are involved in the bioactivation of nitrite anion in the intact rat. The comparison of vasodilator activity indicates that GSNO and GTN are more than 1000-fold more potent than sodium nitrite in decreasing pulmonary and systemic arterial pressures in the rat. Following administration of 1H-[1,2,4]-oxadizaolo[4,3-]quinoxaline-1-one (ODQ), responses to GTN were significantly attenuated, indicating that responses are mediated by the activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase. These data suggest that the reduction of nitrite to nitric oxide formed from the metabolism of GTN, cannot account for the vasodilator activity of GTN in the intact rat and that another mechanism; perhaps the formation of an S-NO, may mediate the vasodilator response to GTN in this species.

Effect of chronic sodium nitrite therapy on monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a rare disorder that without treatment is progressive and often fatal within 3 years. The treatment of PH involves the use of a diverse group of drugs and lung transplantation. Although nitrite was once thought to be an inactive metabolite of endothelial-derived nitric oxide (NO), there is increasing evidence that nitrite may be useful in the treatment of PH, but the mechanism by which nitrite exerts its beneficial effect remains uncertain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of chronic sodium nitrite treatment in a PH model in the rat. Following induction of PH with a single injection of monocrotaline, 60 mg; daily ip injections of sodium nitrite (3mg/kg) starting on day 14 and continuing for 21 days, resulted in a significantly lower pulmonary arterial pressure on day 35 when compared to values in untreated animals with monocrotaline-induced PH. In monocrotaline-treated rats, daily treatment with ip nitrite injections for 21 days decreased right ventricular mass and pathologic changes in small pulmonary arteries. Nitrite therapy did not change systemic arterial pressure or cardiac output when values were measured on day 35. The decreases in pulmonary arterial pressure in response to iv injections of sodium nitroprusside, sodium nitrite, and BAY 41-8543 were not different in rats with monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension and rats with chronic nitrite therapy when compared to responses in animals in which pulmonary arterial pressure was increased with U46619. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the mechanisms that convert nitrite to vasoactive NO, activate soluble guanylyl cyclase and mediate the vasodilator response to NO or an NO derivative are not impaired. The present data are consistent with the results of a previous study in monocrotaline-induced PH in which systemic arterial pressure and cardiac output were not evaluated and are consistent with the hypothesis that nitrite is effective in the treatment of monocrotaline-induced PH in the rodent.

The Rho kinase inhibitor azaindole-1 has long-acting vasodilator activity in the pulmonary vascular bed of the intact chest rat.

Responses to a selective azaindole-based Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor (azaindole-1) were investigated in the rat. Intravenous injections of azaindole-1 (10-300 µg/kg), produced small decreases in pulmonary arterial pressure and larger decreases in systemic arterial pressure without changing cardiac output. Responses to azaindole-1 were slow in onset and long in duration. When baseline pulmonary vascular tone was increased with U46619 or L-NAME, the decreases in pulmonary arterial pressure in response to the ROCK inhibitor were increased. The ROCK inhibitor attenuated the increase in pulmonary arterial pressure in response to ventilatory hypoxia. Azaindole-1 decreased pulmonary and systemic arterial pressures in rats with monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension. These results show that azaindole-1 has significant vasodilator activity in the pulmonary and systemic vascular beds and that responses are larger, slower in onset, and longer in duration when compared with the prototypical agent fasudil. Azaindole-1 reversed hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and decreased pulmonary and systemic arterial pressures in a similar manner in rats with monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension. These data suggest that ROCK is involved in regulating baseline tone in the pulmonary and systemic vascular beds, and that ROCK inhibition will promote vasodilation when tone is increased by diverse stimuli including treatment with monocrotaline.

Peroxynitrite has potent pulmonary vasodilator activity in the rat.

Peroxynitrite (PN) worsens pathological conditions associated with oxidative stress. However, beneficial effects have also been reported. PN has been shown to demonstrate vasodilator as well as vasoconstrictor properties that are dependent upon the experimental conditions and the vascular bed studied. PN-induced vascular smooth muscle relaxation may involve the formation of nitric oxide (NO) donors. The present results show that PN has significant vasodilator activity in the pulmonary and systemic vascular beds, and that responses to PN were not attenuated by L-penicillamine (L-PEN), a PN scavenger, whereas responses to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were decreased. PN had a small inhibitory effect on decreases in arterial pressure in response to the NO donors diethylammonium (Z)-1-(N,N-diethylamino)diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (DEA/NO) and S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO). PN partially reversed hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. PN responses were attenuated by the soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) inhibitor, 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) and responses to PN and the PN precursor, 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), were different. These data show that PN has potent pulmonary vasodilator activity in the rat, and provide evidence that a PN interaction with S-nitrosothiols is not the major mechanism mediating the response. These data suggest that responses to PN are mediated by the activation of sGC, and that PN has a small inhibitory effect on NO responses.

Pulmonary and systemic vasodilator responses to the soluble guanylyl cyclase activator, BAY 60-2770, are not dependent on endogenous nitric oxide or reduced heme.

4-({(4-Carboxybutyl)[2-(5-fluoro-2-{[4'-(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl-4-yl]methoxy}phenyl)ethyl]amino}methyl)benzoic acid (BAY 60-2770) is a nitric oxide (NO)-independent activator of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) that increases the catalytic activity of the heme-oxidized or heme-free form of the enzyme. In this study, responses to intravenous injections of the sGC activator BAY 60-2770 were investigated under baseline and elevated tone conditions induced by the thromboxane mimic U-46619 when NO synthesis was inhibited by N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME), when sGC activity was inhibited by 1H-[1,2,4]-oxadizaolo[4,3]quinoxaline-1-one (ODQ), an agent that oxidizes sGC, and in animals with monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension. The intravenous injections of BAY 60-2770 under baseline conditions caused small decreases in pulmonary arterial pressure, larger decreases in systemic arterial pressure, and no change or small increases in cardiac output. Under elevated tone conditions during infusion of U-46619, intravenous injections of BAY 60-2770 caused larger decreases in pulmonary arterial pressure, smaller decreases in systemic arterial pressure, and increases in cardiac output. Pulmonary vasodilator responses to BAY 60-2770 were enhanced by L-NAME or by ODQ in a dose that attenuated responses to the NO donor sodium nitroprusside. ODQ had no significant effect on baseline pressures and attenuated pulmonary and systemic vasodilator responses to the sGC stimulator BAY 41-8543 2-{1-[2-(fluorophenyl)methyl]-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-yl}-5(4-morpholinyl)-4,6-pyrimidinediamine. BAY 60-2770 and sodium nitroprusside decreased pulmonary and systemic arterial pressures in monocrotaline-treated rats in a nonselective manner. The present data show that BAY 60-2770 has vasodilator activity in the pulmonary and systemic vascular beds that is enhanced by ODQ and NOS inhibition, suggesting that the heme-oxidized form of sGC can be activated in vivo in an NO-independent manner to promote vasodilation. These results show that BAY 60-2770 and sodium nitroprusside decreased pulmonary and systemic arterial pressures in monocrotaline-treated rats, suggesting that BAY 60-2770 does not have selective pulmonary vasodilator activity in animals with monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension.

Characterization of hematopoietic potential of mesenchymal stem cells.

Mesenchymal and hematopoietic tissues are important reservoirs of adult stem cells. The potential of tissue resident mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to differentiate into cells of mesodermal and ectodermal lineages has been reported previously. We examined the hypothesis that adherent adipose tissue resident mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) are capable of generating cells with hematopoietic characteristics. When cultured in differentiation media, clonally isolated ASCs develop into cells with hematopoietic attributes. The hematopoietic differentiated cells (HD) express early hematopoietic (c-kit, PROM1, CD4) as well as monocyte/macrophage markers (CCR5, CD68, MRC1, CD11b, CSF1R). Additionally, HD cells display functional characteristics of monocyte/macrophages such as phagocytosis and enzymatic activity of α-Naphthyl Acetate Esterase. HD cells are also responsive to stimulation by IL-4 and LPS as shown by increased CD14 and HLA-DRB1 expressions and release of IL-2, IL10, and TNF. Taken together, this study characterizes the potential of ASCs to generate functional macrophages in vitro, and therefore paves way for their possible use in cell therapy applications.

Mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase mediates vasodilator responses of glyceryl trinitrate and sodium nitrite in the pulmonary vascular bed of the rat.

It has been reported that mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) catalyzes the formation of glyceryl dinitrate and inorganic nitrite from glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), leading to an increase in cGMP and vasodilation in the coronary and systemic vascular beds. However, the role of nitric oxide (NO) formed from nitrite in mediating the response to GTN in the pulmonary vascular bed is uncertain. The purpose of the present study was to determine if nitrite plays a role in mediating vasodilator responses to GTN. In this study, intravenous injections of GTN and sodium nitrite decreased pulmonary and systemic arterial pressures and increased cardiac output. The decreases in pulmonary arterial pressure under baseline and elevated tone conditions and decreases in systemic arterial pressure in response to GTN and sodium nitrite were attenuated by cyanamide, an ALDH2 inhibitor, whereas responses to the NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), were not altered. The decreases in pulmonary and systemic arterial pressure in response to GTN and SNP were not altered by allopurinol, an inhibitor of xanthine oxidoreductase, whereas responses to sodium nitrite were attenuated. GTN was approximately 1,000-fold more potent than sodium nitrite in decreasing pulmonary and systemic arterial pressures. These results suggest that ALDH2 plays an important role in the bioactivation of GTN and nitrite in the pulmonary and systemic vascular beds and that the reduction of nitrite to vasoactive NO does not play an important role in mediating vasodilator responses to GTN in the intact chest rat.

Pulmonary and systemic vasodilator responses to the soluble guanylyl cyclase stimulator, BAY 41-8543, are modulated by nitric oxide.

BAY 41-8543 is a nitric oxide (NO)-independent stimulator of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC). Responses to intravenous injections of BAY 41-8543 were investigated under baseline and elevated tone conditions and when NO synthase (NOS) was inhibited with N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Under baseline conditions, intravenous injections of BAY 41-8543 caused small decreases in pulmonary arterial pressure, larger decreases in systemic arterial pressure, and increases in cardiac output. When pulmonary arterial pressure was increased to ∼30 mmHg with an intravenous infusion of U-46619, intravenous injections of BAY 41-8543 produced larger dose-dependent decreases in pulmonary arterial pressure, and the relative decreases in pulmonary and systemic arterial pressure in response to the sGC stimulator were similar. Treatment with L-NAME markedly decreased responses to BAY 41-8543 when pulmonary arterial pressure was increased to similar values (∼30 mmHg) in U-46619-infused and in U-46619-infused plus L-NAME-treated animals. The intravenous injection of a small dose of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) when combined with BAY 41-8543 enhanced pulmonary and systemic vasodilator responses to the sGC stimulator in L-NAME-treated animals. The present results indicate that BAY 41-8543 has similar vasodilator activity in the systemic and pulmonary vascular beds when pulmonary vasoconstrictor tone is increased with U-46619. These results demonstrate that pulmonary and systemic vasodilator responses to BAY 41-8543 are significantly attenuated when NOS is inhibited by L-NAME and show that vasodilator responses to BAY 41-8543 are enhanced when combined with a small dose of SNP in L-NAME-treated animals. The present results are consistent with the concept that pulmonary and systemic vasodilator responses to the sGC stimulator are NO-independent; however, the vasodilator activity of the compound is greatly diminished when endogenous NO production is inhibited with L-NAME. These data show that BAY 41-8543 has similar vasodilator activity in the pulmonary and systemic vascular beds in the rat.

Analysis of responses to the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 in the pulmonary and systemic vascular bed of the rat.

Responses to the Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632 were investigated in the anesthetized rat. Under baseline conditions intravenous injections of Y-27632 decreased pulmonary and systemic arterial pressures and increased cardiac output. The decreases in pulmonary arterial pressures were enhanced when baseline tone was increased with U-46619, and under elevated tone conditions Y-27632 produced similar percent decreases in pulmonary and systemic arterial pressures. Injections of Y-27632 prevented and reversed the hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstrictor response. The increase in pulmonary arterial pressure in response to ventilation with a 10% O(2)-90% N(2) gas mixture was not well maintained during the period of hypoxic exposure. Treatment with the nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS) inhibitor nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) increased pulmonary arterial pressure and prevented the decline or fade in the hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstrictor response. The hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstrictor response was reversed by Y-27632 in control and in l-NAME-treated animals. The Rho kinase inhibitor attenuated increases in pulmonary arterial pressures in response to intravenous injections of serotonin, angiotensin II, and Bay K 8644. Y-27632, sodium nitrite, and BAY 41-8543, a guanylate cyclase stimulator, decreased pulmonary and systemic arterial pressures and vascular resistances in monocrotaline-treated rats. These data suggest that Rho kinase is involved in the regulation of baseline tone and in the mediation of pulmonary vasoconstrictor responses. The present data suggest that the hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstrictor response is modulated by the release of NO that mediates the nonsustained component of the response in the anesthetized rat. These data suggest that Rho kinase and NOS play important roles in the regulation of vasoconstrictor tone in physiological and pathophysiological states and that monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension can be reversed by agents that inhibit Rho kinase, generate NO, or stimulate soluble guanylate cyclase.

Role of the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway in the regulation of pulmonary vasoconstrictor function.

Calcium is the major intracellular messenger that triggers smooth muscle contraction. The study of calcium-binding proteins, such as calmodulin and its downstream effectors, reveals critical regulation of smooth muscle contraction by protein kinases and phosphatases. Moreover, the small GTP-binding protein RhoA and its downstream effector protein, Rho-kinase, have been shown to play a novel role in the regulation of smooth muscle contraction. Studies have shown that the activation of Rho-kinase is involved in the development of endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, restenosis, and increased vascular tone in a number of cardiovascular disorders. Because inhibitors of this pathway promote vasodilation independent of the mechanism that increases vasoconstrictor tone, it is our hypothesis that Rho-kinase is constitutively active in regulating vasoconstrictor tone in the pulmonary and systemic vascular beds. Studies in the literature suggest that the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway has an important role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension.

Intracavernosal administration of sodium nitrite as an erectile pharmacotherapy.

It has been reported that sodium nitrite (NaNO2) can act as a storage form of nitric oxide (NO) that can have beneficial pharmacologic actions. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of NaNO2 on erectile function in the rat. The intracavernosal (i.c.) injection of NaNO2 produced dose-related increases in i.c. pressure and decreases in systemic arterial pressure. NaNO2 was 1000-fold less potent than sodium nitroprusside in increasing i.c. pressure. Increases in i.c. pressure in response to NaNO2 were attenuated by the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). The increases in i.c. pressure in response to NaNO2 were not altered by the xanthine oxidoreductase inhibitor allopurinol. The decreases in systemic arterial pressure in response to i.c. injections of NaNO2 were attenuated by allopurinol and were either unchanged or increased by L-NAME. These data suggest that NaNO2 is converted to vasoactive NO in the corpora cavernosum and systemic vascular bed of the rat by different mechanisms. The present data suggest that the conversion of NaNO2 to vasoactive NO is mediated by NOS in the corpora cavernosum and by xanthine oxidoreductase in the systemic vascular bed of the rat. These data show NaNO2 can serve as a NO donor that increases erectile activity in the rat.

High levels of dietary methionine improves sitagliptin-induced hepatotoxicity by attenuating oxidative stress in hypercholesterolemic rats.

BACKGROUND: Both cholesterol (Cho) and methionine (Met, a precursor for homocysteine) are risk factors for fatty liver disease. Since Western diets are rich in Cho and Met, we investigated the hepatic effects of feeding a diet enriched in Met and Cho. Further, based on the reported anti-oxidative and lipid lowering properties of sitagliptin (an antidiabetic drug), we tested whether it could counteract the negative effects of high Cho and Met. We therefore hypothesized that sitagliptin would ameliorate the development of liver pathology that is produced by feeding diets rich in either Cho, Met, or both. METHODS: Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed ad libitum a) control diet, or b) high Met or c) high Cho, or d) high Met + high Cho diets for 35 days. From day 10 to 35, 50% of rats in each dietary group were gavaged with either vehicle or an aqueous suspension of sitagliptin (100 mg/kg/day). Liver samples were harvested for histological, molecular, and biochemical analyses. RESULTS: The high Cho diet produced significant hepatic steatosis which was unaffected by sitagliptin. Contrary to expectation, sitagliptin exacerbated expression of hepatic markers of oxidative stress and fibrosis in rats fed high Cho. Corresponding increases in 4-hydroxynonenal adducts and collagen deposition were demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and sirius red staining. These hepatic changes were absent in rats on the high Met diet and they were comparable to controls. The inclusion of Met in the high Cho diet resulted in significant reduction of the hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress, and fibrosis produced by high Cho alone. CONCLUSION: Sitagliptin exacerbated the effects of high Cho on both oxidative stress and fibrosis, resulting in NASH like symptoms that were significantly reversed by the inclusion of Met.

Intracellular oxidative stress and cytotoxicity in rat primary cortical neurons exposed to cholesterol secoaldehyde.

Cholesterol secoaldehyde (ChSeco or 3beta-hydroxy-5-oxo-5,6-secocholestan-6-al) has been shown to induce Abeta aggregation and apoptosis in GT1-7 hypothalamic neurons. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of ChSeco on rat primary cortical neuronal cells. ChSeco was cytotoxic at concentrations ranging from 5 to 20 microM, while cholesterol of comparable concentrations showed little or no toxicity. In ChSeco-exposed neuronal cells, there was an increased formation of intracellular peroxide or peroxide-like substance(s), the levels of which were comparable to those found in typical menadione exposures. There was a loss in the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, the extent of which was dependent on concentration of ChSeco employed. Pre-treatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (5 mM; 1 h) offered protection against the cytotoxicity and the generation of intracellular oxidants. Cytotoxicity of ChSeco was evidenced by the loss of axonal branches and also condensed apoptotic nuclei in these cells. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a decreased intracellular Abeta42 staining proportional to the loss in the axonal out growth and dendritic branches. The observed decrease in Abeta42 has been suggested to be due to loss of integrity of dendrites and the plasma membrane, possibly resulting from increased production of reactive oxygen species.